Velkist sheathed his sword and walked out of the training arena.
Aaron stood still where he was, head bowed low. Iolka tilted her head.
"I thought Aaron would win. Strange."
"Poor Aaron Oppa. He was doing so well. Just in that one moment..." Jenna trailed off.
"Yes, just one moment," I affirmed.
I closed my eyes.
'Saying he has excellent senses doesn't quite cover it.'
As the fight dragged on, Velkist figured out Aaron's spear patterns.
This was evident from how Velkist started taking fewer hits from the mid-point onward, and how he effortlessly dodged Aaron's final string of attacks before closing the distance.
However, even though Velkist could have switched to offense earlier, he waited.
'Just one attack.'
He knew that a single opportunity was all that was needed to claim victory.
To eliminate any potential unforeseen variables, and also to seize the perfect counter-attack timing, Velkist silently endured Aaron's numerous attacks.
And he did not miss the opening when it came.
It was a method impossible to execute without the observational skill to calmly assess the opponent, the analytical ability to identify the possibility of victory, and the patience to wait until the opportunity presented itself.
"It seems there are no objections."
I opened my eyes.
Everyone's gaze was focused on me.
Clearing my throat, I spoke.
"A promise is a promise. Velkist is in Party 1. Aaron is out."
I had stated it clearly.
That I would grant the Party 1 spot to the winner.
Aaron had entered the duel prepared for this outcome. And the result was decided.
Regardless of any complaints, I couldn't break a rule once it was established.
"That wasn't a satisfying duel. Aaron, you invited defeat upon yourself with incomprehensible actions. It's difficult for you to remain in our party. You likely know this yourself."
"Hyung-nim, Aaron was trying not to hurt a comrade..." Jenna started.
"Cut the pathetic excuses. We didn't come here to cultivate camaraderie. We came here to defeat enemies, and to survive. Don't hold back, even in spars. The careless ones die first. Don't forget that."
I snapped my fingers.
A system message announcing the party change appeared.
['Han (★★)' proposes a party configuration!]
['Party 1' Proposed Members]
['Han (★★)', 'Jenna (★★)', 'Iolka (★★★)', 'Nerissa (★★)', 'Velkist (★★)']
[Upon agreement, 'Aaron (★★)' will automatically be removed from the party. Do you agree?]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
Amkena accepted the proposal.
With that, all procedures for changing the party members were completed.
['Aaron (★★)' is removed from 'Party 1'!]
['Nerissa (★★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
['Velkist (★★)' joins 'Party 1'!]
A heavy silence descended upon the training center.
Hesitantly, Jenna grabbed the fabric of my clothes.
"Oppa, I..."
"Enough."
I shook off Jenna's hand.
I know what she wants to say. Emotionally, I wanted to make a different decision too. But this is the reality. Feelings like camaraderie alone are not enough to succeed in missions.
Cutting him off is the correct decision.
Aaron hit a slump starting from the 15th floor. Dragging him along further risked endangering not only Aaron himself but the entire Party 1.
We have to get used to it.
Whether they die, or they're eliminated.
To someone who was once with us being gone.
I said, "Everyone, head back for today. It's gotten quite late."
No one left readily, but after a few minutes, starting with Edyth from Party 2, they began to file out of the training center one by one.
Usher shot Velkist a look filled with hostility before disappearing. Then Jenna and Iolka left. Jenna glanced back several times at Aaron, still standing in the training arena above.
Most of the members were gone.
Remaining in the training center were myself, Velkist, Nerissa, who had returned at some point, and Aaron, standing alone inside the arena.
"Is this decided then?" Velkist asked.
"Yes, you and Nerissa will be operating in Party 1 from now on."
"I see." Velkist spoke, leaning his back against the iron bars.
His face was expressionless, as if nothing significant had occurred.
"A bit regrettable. If he hadn't held back at the start, it could have been interesting."
"I agree."
Aaron gave Velkist far too much time.
For Aaron to win, he needed to press the attack hard early on, before Velkist adapted, and finish it. The longer he drew it out, the more disadvantageous it would become. It was Aaron's own mistake.
"My assessment was correct, it seems."
I turned my gaze.
In a corner of the training center, Nerissa was smoothing back her hair.
"Personally, I am dissatisfied, but it can't be helped."
"What can't be helped?" Velkist muttered under his breath.
"Because, from my perspective, that person seemed unprepared," Nerissa continued, looking at me. "Yours was a wise decision."
Nerissa bowed deeply to me.
I nodded.
"You may have joined Party 1, but neither of you is at a satisfactory level yet. You understand that, right? Gather at the training center tomorrow at dawn. I'll tell you what needs to be done."
"Understood," Velkist replied.
"We look forward to your guidance," Nerissa said formally.
I chuckled lightly.
"Anyway, you two are hard to figure out. Why struggle tooth and nail just to get into Party 1? Do you think your fortunes will magically improve if you join Party 1? It's the opposite. We're far more dangerous than Party 2."
"We came precisely because we know that. To get stronger." Velkist's eyes grew deep and intense.
"You both must be tired today. Head back now."
Velkist gave me a slight bow and left the training center.
Nerissa remained. She bowed to me sharply, at a perfect right angle.
"I look forward to working under you. My name is Nerissa Iyor."
Having finished her greeting, Nerissa walked out of the training center.
At last, all members had vacated the training center.
Only Aaron, inside the arena, and I were left. I opened the iron door of the arena.
"Come out, for now. Huddling in there won't change anything."
"...I don't want to leave."
"Then I'll come in."
I entered the training arena.
The bloodstains Velkist had left were fading. I sat down on the floor next to the slumped Aaron. Aaron muttered in a subdued voice,
"So I lost."
"That's right. You lost."
"I lost because I was weak. That's all there is to it, isn't it?"
Aaron's voice trembled slightly.
I asked, "Why didn't you aim for the vital spots?"
Aaron looked up at me.
"You had the advantage at the beginning. Why did you give Velkist time? You could have easily won."
"One shouldn't kill a comrade, should they?"
"Since when did you start caring about things like that?"
Even if Aaron had killed Velkist, I intended to cover it up.
I was confident I could use Yisel's power to have it ruled a sudden death, not a Hero killing. Just like I did with Maned Wolf. But Aaron chose a different path.
Even though he started targeting vital spots again midway, ultimately, it led to defeat.
"I don't think I raised you to be this weak."
Aaron smiled bitterly.
"My thinking just changed, that's all. As you know, Hyung-nim, I lack talent, don't I?"
"..."
"Perhaps I could have won today. In fact, I was confident I could. But as time passes... if a little more time passes... if that man comes back having grown even stronger..."
Aaron's voice gradually trailed off.
He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
"Do I have the right to kill him? Someone who shines brighter than me...?"
"..."
"Watching Velkist and Miss Nerissa... I started to feel that everything I'd been doing was meaningless. No matter how much time I devoted, no matter how much effort I put in... faced with the difference in talent..."
"Is that why you held back?"
"Because I shouldn't cause a loss for the Master. Aren't they important assets?"
Aaron lowered his head.
"The things that Hyung-nim and Miss Jenna see... I can't see them. No matter how much I swung my spear, the fog before my eyes wouldn't clear. It felt like I was just running in place, over and over again."
'So he broke down on his own.'
Aaron started acting strangely after returning from the 15th floor.
From then on, the intensity of his training became unimaginably harsh. But when sparring, despite the sheer volume of training, he somehow felt weaker than before. His confidence had vanished.
"What will happen to me now? I won't be able to join Party 1, I suppose."
"Not for the time being. Unless you become stronger, perhaps."
The chances weren't high.
Aaron probably knew it too. Combat didn't really suit this guy. It never had, right from the start. He was just forcing himself through this for his younger sister.
"There's a position called Instructor. It's a role teaching newcomers in the 1st-floor training center. I think it suits you. Dika too."
Dika, who went down to the 1st floor, would be brought back up soon.
That guy is timid but diligent. He's a hard worker similar to Aaron, so his skills are solid. If entrusted with the instructor role, he'd quickly fulfill his duties.
"It's easier than getting knocked around in Party 1. No worries about dying or shedding blood. The training load is reduced too. You just have to teach newcomers in a safe place."
"A teaching role?"
"Normally, the competition is fierce. It can reach tens of applicants for one spot. I'll give a special recommendation for you two. What do you think?"
Aaron couldn't easily answer.
I sighed.
"If you've had enough, then you've worked hard. Rest easy. I'll arrange for you to go back home."
"I..."
"What on earth are you hesitating about? What's your goal? To become strong like Velkist? That's not it, is it? Wasn't it to return safely to your family?"
Party 1 was highly likely to become Aaron's grave.
Party 2 was the same. Even if the death rate was low on the 10th and 15th floors, there was no guarantee it would stay that way. Not just Iolka and Jenna, but even I wasn't immune to the possibility of dying. This path—Instructor or going home—was the best choice for Aaron himself.
"That's right. But..."
"But?"
Aaron wore a complex expression.
As if he had something to say, he opened his mouth, then clamped it shut again.
I let out a deep sigh.
"Is that so."
"I'm sorry. I'll take the instructor position."
"Forget about being an instructor."
"Huh?"
"If you don't want to do it, then you should just give it up. What other choice is there?"
Aaron's eyes widened.
I smiled and continued.
"There's someone I know who's similar to you. That guy also had absolutely abysmal talent. At your level, his Spearmanship skill was a mere 2. He was such trash, I considered discarding him countless times."
Aaron blinked his wide eyes.
Of course, he wouldn't understand. I was talking about my time as a Master.
"Do you want to become strong, Aaron?"
"..."
"Judging by your non-answer, it seems you don't."
"No, Hyung-nim!" Aaron fell to his knees.
Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
"I... I want to become strong! These miserable thoughts... I never want to think them again! But is there even a way for someone like me...?!"
"There is a way. Wait. Until that door opens."
Beyond the open door of the training center, the firmly shut gate of the Dimensional Rift could be seen.
I pointed towards that great door.
"I'll take you to Niflheim."
"Where is that?"
I chuckled softly.
"It's a very... good place."